Why Do So Many Bars Have the Nickname “Bucket of Blood” Across the Globe?
The name is gruesome, but why is it so common?
Some modern establishments have called on this historical name for their own branding. And, in Chicago between 1900 and 1940 there were loads of barscalled “The Bucket of Blood.” There’s even a street in Holbrook, Arizona, that bears the name, supposedly so-called for a deadly gunfight that broke out there in 1886.
Each Bar Is Unique
This fascinating phenomenon goes back to at least the 18th century in Cornwall, England, and we can guess that a gory name makes a bar unforgettable to the public, if not exactly appealing.
While some stories tell of a murdered smuggler thrown into the nearest well which turned the water red, more sensible stories tell of how the water was tinged red by the tin in the water from local mining operations.
The White Eagle Saloon in Portland, Oregon, opened around the turn of the century, housing within one business a bordello, an opium den, and a bar. The huge number of fights that broke out at the White Eagle Saloon earned it the name Bucket of Blood. And, of course, some folks say it’s haunted to this day.
The Bucket of Blood in Virginia City, Nevada, has been in operation since 1876 and claims to be the “original,” but the tavern in Cornwall has it beat by at least a century.
Why the Name?
From England to Chicago to Hondurasthere are dozens of bars, speakeasies, and taverns with the name of “Bucket of Blood.” Unsurprisingly, many have back stories that relate to prohibition, murder, or gunslingers. They all share a name (or nickname) despite very different folklore about where the name really comes from.
It’s not hard to imagine that the long association between blood and wine is a contributing factor in the naming of these taverns and pubs, but it’s interesting that so many of these establishments claim to have a unique claim to the Bucket of Blood name.
The most likely reason we can think of is that if one were cleaning up after a gruesome bar fight, the water in your cleaning bucket might soon turn red, which may explain why the name is not as unique as it appears at first glance.
Click “Next Page” to see inside the jazz era Seattle speakeasy that was also called the Bucket of Blood!
SKM: below-content placeholderWhizzco for DOT